Euro Chlor publishes benchmark sustainability targets

25 February 2003 13:54  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--European chloralkali association Euro Chlor released on Tuesday the industry’s first sustainability performance indicators based on environment protection, social progress and economic development.

The 14 measurable sustainability indicators, developed by a Euro Chlor taskforce over 2002, are derived from six sustainability commitments to:

• Include environment, social and economic aspects in all strategic business decision-making within the chloralkali industry
• Optimisation of energy efficiency in chloralkali production
• Minimise water use through increased recycling
• Continuously reduce emissions to water, air and land
• Optimise the use of hydrogen generated in the chloralkali industry as a raw material or fuel
• Maintain a strong emphasis on safe chlorine

The 14 sustainability indicators, which were disclosed today at the association's conference in Brussels on sustainability, are:

(1) Measurements of chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) emissions to air and water which will be compared with data provided by Euro-Chlor members in 1985.

(2) Mercury emissions based on data annually provided by Euro Chlor to the Oslo and Paris Marine Commission (OSPAR) and Euro Chlor’s commitment to a national average emission of 1gm/tonne chlorine capacity.

(3) Improved product knowledge will be gauged by Euro Chlor’s commitment to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to produce global harmonised data sets for around 45 high production volume (HPV) chlorinated chemicals.

(4) The commitments also include transportation methods, and (5) a measure of the amount of chlorine transported as well as an assessment of the proportion of Euro Chlor members participating in a national responsible care scheme (6).

Further performance goals include measures of time lost through injury (7) and the number of process (8) and transport (9) injuries.

Technological developments will be quantified by a ratio comparing the use of mercury technology, membrane cell technology and diaphragm cell technology (10).

Energy use (11) is also calculated by a new index, which takes account of different technologies and varying operating rates. Water (12) and hydrogen (13) use is also analysed.

The final Euro Chlor sustainability indicator covers economic development (14) and measures production information, capacity and utilisation rates as well as information relating to the market application of chlorine and its co-product caustic soda.

Euro Chlor executive director Barrie Gilliatt said: "I have been extremely encouraged by the progress and commitment of producers. The future of our sector depends not only on how we respond to the challenges of sustainability, but that we do so in an open and transparent manner."

(Elaine Burridge in Brussels contributed to this article.)

By: Joanna Kesteven
+44 208 652 3214

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